GILLETT, Wis. — Free throw shooting has been the Niagara girls varsity basketball team’s Achilles heel at times this season. However, it has made do.

On Friday, the Lady Badgers’ struggles at the charity stripe showed up again in the first half against Gillett in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 5 Regional semifinals.

Niagara (16-10, 9-7) couldn’t overcome its first-half woes and ultimately fell to the Tigers (20-4, 12-4), 48-35.

“We struggled to make baskets,” Lady Badgers head coach Karl Lamoreaux said. “Our shooting percentage was below what we normally shoot but we still played hard and kept it close. Proud of our team! I’m going to miss my three seniors, Marley Jones, Rachael Walker and Mallory Sanicki. They’re great kids; they competed hard every day and were a lot of fun to coach.”

Senior Mallory Sanicki led the Niagara attack in the opening 18 minutes with five points. Bristol Sanicki buried a 3-pointer and junior Alivia Kleikamp added five.

However, the Lady Badgers were 1-for-6 from the free-throw line in the half and went into halftime trailing, 24-13.

Kleikamp kept it rolling in the second half, tallying six points. Niagara needed someone else to step up in the frame, and sophomore Sydney Swanson went to work, scoring 11 points.

Gillett leaned on Mariah Cloud down the stretch. She scored 16 points in the contest, propelling the Tigers to the WIAA Division 5 regional finals.

Kleikamp and Swanson led the Lady Badgers with 11 points apiece.

Niagara also received contributions from Mallory Sanicki (7 points), Bristol Sanicki (3 points) and Peyton Neuens-Allred (3 points).

Report compiled by Daily News sports editor Sean Chase.